Responsible Gambling
At Cosmobet, we want gambling to be an enjoyable form of entertainment for all our players. While the vast majority of people who gamble do so without experiencing any problems, we recognize that for some individuals, gambling can become a source of harm rather than enjoyment. We have therefore made responsible gambling a cornerstone of our operations, implementing comprehensive measures to help players maintain control and to identify and support those who may be at risk.
Our approach to responsible gambling goes beyond mere regulatory compliance with our Curaçao Gaming Control Board licence requirements. We genuinely care about the wellbeing of our players and believe that a sustainable gambling industry must be one that prioritizes player protection. This means not only providing tools that allow players to limit their gambling but also creating an environment where responsible behavior is encouraged and supported, where warning signs are recognized and addressed, and where help is readily available for those who need it.
This page explains the tools and resources we provide to support responsible gambling, offers guidance for keeping your gambling healthy and enjoyable, and provides information about where to get help if you or someone you know is struggling. We encourage all players to read this information carefully and to make use of our responsible gambling features proactively rather than waiting until problems develop.
Understanding Gambling and Risk
Before engaging in any gambling activity, it is important to understand some fundamental truths about how gambling works. This understanding can help you approach gambling with realistic expectations and make informed decisions about your play.
The most important thing to understand is that gambling is designed to favor the operator over the long term. While individual players can and do win, sometimes significantly, the mathematical structure of all gambling games ensures that the house will make a profit overall. On our slot games, the average return to player is approximately 96.5%, meaning that for every €100 wagered, players receive back an average of €96.50 over time. The remaining 3.5% is our margin. Table games have varying house edges, from less than 1% for optimal blackjack play to over 5% for some side bets. Sports betting margins are built into the odds. This is not deception or unfairness—it is simply how gambling businesses operate and remain viable. The odds are always disclosed, and players should approach gambling as a form of paid entertainment rather than a way to make money.
Another crucial concept is the independence of each gambling event. In games of chance, past results have no influence on future outcomes. A slot machine that has not paid out recently is no more likely to pay out on the next spin than one that paid a jackpot moments ago. The Random Number Generator that determines outcomes operates independently for each spin. A roulette ball that has landed on red ten times in a row is no more likely to land on black on the next spin—the probability remains 48.6% for European roulette regardless of past results. Understanding this helps prevent the "gambler's fallacy"—the mistaken belief that a win is "due" after a series of losses.
Chasing losses is one of the most dangerous behaviors in gambling. When players try to win back money they have lost by placing larger bets or playing longer, they typically end up losing more. The emotions that drive loss-chasing—frustration, desperation, the desire to return to a previous financial state—work against sound judgment and lead to increasingly risky decisions. Setting limits in advance and accepting losses as an inevitable part of the gambling experience are essential practices for responsible play. A good mindset is to treat any money you deposit for gambling as the cost of entertainment, similar to buying a cinema ticket or concert admission.
Keeping Gambling Enjoyable
Gambling should be a form of entertainment that adds enjoyment to your life, not a source of stress, conflict, or financial hardship. The following principles can help ensure that your gambling remains a positive experience.
The foundation of responsible gambling is setting a budget before you begin playing and sticking to it absolutely. This budget should be an amount you can genuinely afford to lose—money that, if lost entirely, would not affect your ability to pay rent or mortgage, utilities, food, and other essential expenses or obligations. Think of it as discretionary entertainment spending, like what you might spend on dining out, hobbies, or travel. Once your budget is exhausted, you should stop gambling, regardless of whether you are winning or losing. Our deposit limit tools, available in your account settings under Responsible Gambling, can help you enforce this boundary automatically.
Managing your time is equally important as managing your money. Extended gambling sessions can lead to fatigue, which impairs judgment and decision-making. It becomes easier to make poor choices, ignore warning signs, and lose track of how much you have spent. Long sessions can also consume time that might otherwise be spent on work, family, relationships, exercise, hobbies, and other important aspects of a balanced life. Setting time limits and taking regular breaks helps maintain perspective and prevents gambling from becoming all-consuming. Our session time limits and reality check features, which you can configure in your account settings, can assist with time management by automatically logging you out or showing periodic reminders.
Never borrow money to gamble or use money intended for essential expenses. If you find yourself considering taking out a loan, using credit cards for cash advances, pawning possessions, or diverting funds from rent, utilities, or other necessities to fund gambling, this is a serious warning sign that should not be ignored. These behaviors indicate that gambling has moved beyond entertainment into problematic territory. Gambling should only ever involve discretionary funds that you can truly afford to lose without any impact on your financial obligations or quality of life.
Avoid gambling when you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs. These substances impair judgment, lower inhibitions, and can lead to decisions you would not make when sober, including betting more than you intended, chasing losses, or playing for longer than planned. Similarly, avoid gambling when you are emotional, stressed, depressed, or using gambling as an escape from problems in your life. Gambling is most likely to become problematic when it serves as a coping mechanism rather than a form of recreation. If you find yourself gambling to feel better rather than for enjoyment, it may be time to reconsider your relationship with gambling.
Balance gambling with other activities and interests. A healthy lifestyle includes a variety of pursuits, and gambling should be just one of many ways you spend your leisure time. If you find that gambling is crowding out other activities you used to enjoy, or if you are declining social invitations, missing family events, or neglecting responsibilities in order to gamble, it may be time to reassess. These are warning signs that gambling may be taking on an unhealthy role in your life.
Responsible Gambling Tools
We provide a comprehensive suite of tools designed to help you maintain control of your gambling activity. These tools are available in the Responsible Gambling section of your account settings, accessible through the main menu or your account dashboard. We encourage all players to familiarize themselves with these features and to use them proactively rather than waiting until problems develop.
Deposit Limits
Deposit limits allow you to set a maximum amount that you can deposit into your account over a specified period. You can set daily limits, weekly limits, monthly limits, or any combination of these. For example, you might set a daily limit of €50, a weekly limit of €200, and a monthly limit of €500. Once you reach your limit for a given period, you will not be able to make additional deposits until the next period begins, regardless of how much money remains in your account or how much you may want to continue playing.
When setting deposit limits, be honest with yourself about what you can truly afford. Consider your income, your expenses, your savings goals, and your other uses for discretionary money. It is better to set conservative limits initially and adjust them later if appropriate than to set limits so high that they provide no real protection. Many players find that having limits in place actually enhances their enjoyment because it removes the stress of wondering whether they are spending too much.
Decreases to deposit limits take effect immediately, providing instant protection if you feel you need to reduce your gambling. Increases to deposit limits, however, are subject to a 24-hour waiting period. This cooling-off period ensures that requests to increase limits are considered decisions rather than impulsive reactions to a losing session or the desire to chase losses. During the waiting period, you can cancel the increase request if you change your mind.
Loss Limits
Loss limits cap the amount you can lose over a specified period. Unlike deposit limits, which control how much money enters your account, loss limits control how much money you can lose from your balance. When your losses reach the limit you have set, you will be unable to place additional bets until the next period begins.
Loss limits can be particularly valuable because they account for fluctuations in your balance. You might deposit a modest amount but experience a lucky streak that significantly increases your balance. Without a loss limit, you could then lose back not only your original deposit but also all your winnings. A loss limit ensures that regardless of how much your balance grows, your maximum loss over any given period remains controlled. You can set loss limits on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis.
Session Time Limits
Session time limits restrict how long you can remain logged into your account during a single gambling session. When your time limit is reached, you will be automatically logged out of your account. You will need to wait until the following day to log in again, giving you a mandatory break from play.
When setting session limits, think about what a healthy gambling session looks like for you. How much time can you devote to gambling without it interfering with other aspects of your life such as work, family, sleep, and other responsibilities? What length of session allows you to remain alert and make good decisions? For many people, sessions of one to two hours are appropriate. Setting realistic limits based on these considerations can help keep gambling in its proper place as one part of a balanced lifestyle.
Reality Checks
Reality checks are periodic notifications that appear during your gambling session to remind you how long you have been playing. These notifications display your session duration and may also include information about your session activity, such as how much you have deposited, won, and lost during the session. You can set reality checks to appear at intervals of 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, or 4 hours.
The purpose of reality checks is to break the absorption that can occur during gambling and to provide opportunities for reflection. When you receive a reality check, take a moment to consider whether you are still enjoying yourself, whether you are still within your budget, and whether continuing to play is the best use of your time. If the answer to any of these questions is no, it may be time to stop. You can acknowledge the reality check and continue playing, but the interruption itself provides a valuable moment for self-assessment.
Cooling-Off Periods
A cooling-off period is a temporary break from gambling that you can impose on yourself when you feel you need some time away. During a cooling-off period, you will not be able to access your account, place bets, or play games. You will also be removed from marketing lists and will not receive promotional emails, SMS messages, or push notifications.
Cooling-off periods are available in durations of 24 hours, 48 hours, 7 days, and 30 days. Unlike self-exclusion, which is intended for longer-term or permanent breaks, cooling-off periods are designed for shorter breaks when you simply need some time to step back and regain perspective. At the end of your cooling-off period, your account will be automatically reactivated, and you can log in as normal. However, if during your cooling-off period you realize you need a longer break, you can contact support to extend the period or to apply a self-exclusion.
Self-Exclusion
Self-exclusion is our most comprehensive responsible gambling tool, designed for players who feel they need to stop gambling entirely for an extended period. When you self-exclude, you agree to a binding commitment to stay away from gambling for your chosen duration, and we take all reasonable steps to enforce this commitment.
Self-exclusion periods available at Cosmobet are 6 months, 1 year, 3 years, and permanent exclusion. During your exclusion period, your account will be closed, and you will not be able to log in, create a new account, or access our services in any way. Any funds remaining in your account will be available for withdrawal upon request by emailing support@cosmobet.com from your registered email address. You will be removed from all marketing databases and will not receive any promotional communications from us.
Self-exclusion is a serious step and should not be undertaken lightly. Once you have self-excluded, your exclusion cannot be reversed until the chosen period has elapsed, even if you change your mind, your circumstances change, or you feel confident you can control your gambling. We maintain this strict policy because we understand that the urge to return to gambling can be strong, especially during the early stages of recovery when resolve is often tested. A commitment that can easily be undone provides little real protection.
If you believe you would benefit from self-exclusion, we encourage you to proceed. The temporary inconvenience of not being able to gamble is far preferable to the harm that can result from continued gambling when it has become problematic. You can initiate self-exclusion through your account settings under Responsible Gambling, or by contacting our customer support team at support@cosmobet.com.
Recognizing Problem Gambling
Problem gambling can develop gradually, and many people do not recognize it until it has caused significant harm. Being aware of the warning signs can help you identify problems early—whether in yourself or in someone you care about—and seek help before the situation worsens.
Changes in gambling behavior often provide the first indications of a problem. These might include gambling more frequently than before or for longer periods than intended, gambling with larger amounts of money than originally planned, needing to gamble with increasing amounts to achieve the same excitement, gambling alone when you previously enjoyed it as a social activity, becoming preoccupied with gambling between sessions or constantly thinking about your next opportunity to gamble, and feeling restless, irritable, or anxious when trying to cut back or stop. Any of these changes warrants honest self-reflection about whether gambling is still a healthy activity for you.
Financial warning signs are often significant indicators of problem gambling. These include spending more on gambling than you can comfortably afford, borrowing money from friends, family, or financial institutions to gamble, using credit cards or payday loans to fund gambling, using money meant for bills, rent, or other necessities, accumulating debts and struggling to meet financial obligations, selling possessions to raise funds for gambling, and hiding bank statements or financial records from family members. Financial problems caused by gambling often escalate quickly, as the urge to win back losses leads to increasingly desperate behavior.
Relationship and social impacts also frequently accompany problem gambling. These might include lying to family members, friends, or colleagues about the extent of your gambling, missing work, performing poorly, or losing jobs due to gambling, declining social invitations or missing family events to gamble instead, experiencing conflict with loved ones over gambling, money, or time, becoming isolated and secretive about your activities, and withdrawing from relationships and activities you previously enjoyed. Gambling that damages relationships or leads to social withdrawal has clearly moved beyond healthy entertainment.
Emotional and psychological signs can be particularly telling. These include feeling guilty, ashamed, or anxious about gambling, using gambling to escape from problems, stress, depression, or negative emotions, feeling unable to stop gambling despite a sincere desire to do so, experiencing mood swings related to gambling wins and losses, thinking about gambling constantly even when doing other things, and experiencing feelings of hopelessness or depression related to gambling. When gambling becomes an emotional crutch rather than a form of enjoyment, intervention is needed.
If you recognize any of these signs in yourself, we strongly encourage you to use our responsible gambling tools immediately, including deposit limits, loss limits, and cooling-off periods or self-exclusion if needed. We also encourage you to consider seeking professional support from the organizations listed later in this document. If you recognize these signs in someone else, approach them with compassion rather than judgment and encourage them to seek help.
Self-Assessment
If you are unsure whether your gambling might be problematic, the following questions can help you assess your situation. Answer them honestly, and consider discussing your responses with someone you trust such as a friend, family member, or counselor.
Do you find yourself spending more money on gambling than you intended or than you can comfortably afford? Do you ever gamble with money that should be used for essential expenses like rent, utilities, food, or debt payments? Have you borrowed money, used credit cards, or sold possessions to fund gambling?
Do you think about gambling frequently when you are doing other things, such as working, spending time with family, or trying to sleep? Do you find yourself planning your next gambling session or reliving past wins and losses in your mind? Does gambling occupy more of your mental energy than you would like?
Have you tried to cut back on gambling but found it difficult to do so? Do you feel restless, irritable, or unhappy when you cannot gamble or when you try to reduce your gambling? Have you returned to gambling after periods of abstinence despite intending to stop permanently?
Do you chase your losses by gambling more in an attempt to win back money you have lost? Do you feel compelled to continue gambling when you are losing until you have won back your losses or gone through your entire bankroll? Do you increase your bets when losing in hopes of a big win to recover?
Have you lied to family members, friends, or others about how much time or money you spend on gambling? Do you feel ashamed or guilty about your gambling behavior? Do you hide your gambling activity, bank statements, or receipts from others?
Has your gambling caused problems in your relationships with partners, family members, or friends? Has it affected your work performance, attendance, or caused you to lose a job? Has it led to neglecting responsibilities or missing important commitments?
If you answered yes to even one or two of these questions, it may indicate that your gambling is moving beyond healthy entertainment and that you should consider setting stricter limits or taking a break. The more questions you answered affirmatively, the more likely it is that your gambling has become problematic. We encourage you to use our responsible gambling tools, reduce or stop your gambling, and consider seeking support from a professional organization.
Getting Help
If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling, it is important to know that help is available and that recovery is possible. Problem gambling is a recognized condition that responds well to treatment, and many people have successfully overcome gambling problems to lead fulfilling lives free from the harm that gambling was causing.
Professional support organizations specialize in helping people with gambling issues and their affected family members. These services are confidential and typically free of charge.
GamCare is a leading UK-based charity providing information, advice, and support for anyone affected by gambling problems. They operate the National Gambling Helpline at 0808 8020 133, which is free to call, confidential, and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They also offer live chat support, email counseling, and face-to-face counseling services in many locations. Their comprehensive website at www.gamcare.org.uk includes self-assessment tools, information about treatment options, and resources for affected family members.
Gamblers Anonymous is an international fellowship of people who have experienced gambling problems and who support each other in recovery through regular meetings. Their program follows the twelve-step model that has been used successfully by Alcoholics Anonymous and other recovery fellowships for decades. Meetings are free to attend and provide a supportive, non-judgmental environment where people share their experiences and help each other maintain abstinence from gambling. You can find meeting locations and times, including online meetings, at www.gamblersanonymous.org.
Gambling Therapy, operated by the Gordon Moody Association, provides online support services for people affected by problem gambling worldwide. Their services include a free online support service where you can chat with trained advisors, moderated online group therapy sessions, forums where you can connect with others in recovery, and a smartphone app with tools and exercises to support recovery. Services are available at www.gamblingtherapy.org in multiple languages.
The Gordon Moody Association also operates residential treatment programs in the UK for people with severe gambling problems. Their programs provide intensive therapy in a supportive residential environment. More information is available at www.gordonmoody.org.uk.
In the United States, the National Council on Problem Gambling operates a confidential helpline at 1-800-522-4700, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They can provide immediate support and connect you with treatment resources in your area.
For family members and friends of people with gambling problems, Gam-Anon offers support and understanding. Living with someone who has a gambling problem can be extremely stressful, and Gam-Anon provides a space to share experiences and receive support from others in similar situations. Information and meeting locations are available at www.gam-anon.org.
Our customer support team at Cosmobet is also available to help you access responsible gambling tools and to provide information about support resources. We care about our players' wellbeing, and we would rather see someone take a break from gambling than continue to harm themselves. You can reach our support team at any time via live chat on our website or by email at support@cosmobet.com.
Blocking Software
If you want additional help staying away from online gambling sites, blocking software can provide an extra layer of protection. These programs prevent access to gambling websites and apps on your devices, making it harder to gamble impulsively even if you experience urges.
Gamban is a comprehensive blocking service that blocks access to thousands of gambling websites and apps across all your devices including computers, smartphones, and tablets. Once installed, Gamban runs continuously in the background and cannot be easily disabled or uninstalled, which is intentional to prevent you from circumventing the block during moments of weakness. Subscriptions are available for 1 year, 3 years, or 5 years at varying prices, and subsidized options are available for those who cannot afford the full cost. You can learn more and subscribe at www.gamban.com.
BetBlocker is a free service provided by a charity that allows you to block gambling sites on your devices. It is available for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android and can be configured to block gambling content for periods ranging from 24 hours to 5 years. Because it is free, it is an accessible option for anyone who wants to block gambling access. More information is available at www.betblocker.org.
GamBlock is another commercial blocking service that has been helping problem gamblers since 2000. It offers comprehensive blocking of gambling websites and provides detailed reporting features. Subscriptions are available for various durations. You can find more information at www.gamblock.com.
Using blocking software in conjunction with self-exclusion from gambling sites provides multiple layers of protection and can significantly increase your chances of successfully abstaining from gambling during recovery.
Our Commitment
Cosmobet is committed to operating responsibly and to supporting our players in gambling safely. Our commitment manifests in numerous ways throughout our operations.
All our staff receive training on responsible gambling, including how to recognize signs of problem gambling in player behavior and communications, and how to respond appropriately with empathy and information. Our customer support team is equipped to provide information about our responsible gambling tools and to facilitate access to external support resources. In situations where we believe a player may be at risk, we are prepared to reach out proactively to offer assistance.
We use behavioral analytics and player monitoring to identify patterns that may indicate problem gambling, such as significant increases in deposit frequency or amount, extended playing sessions, repeated declined deposit attempts, and chasing behavior after losses. When such patterns are detected, we may take action ranging from reaching out to offer support and information about tools, to imposing cooling-off periods, to restricting account access pending contact with the player. While we respect player autonomy, we believe we have a responsibility to intervene when gambling appears to be causing harm.
Our marketing practices are designed to promote responsible gambling. We never target advertising at people who have self-excluded or who have indicated they do not wish to receive marketing. We do not send promotional communications that encourage gambling as a solution to financial problems or that suggest gambling is an essential activity for a fulfilling life. Our advertising presents gambling as it should be—a form of entertainment that can be enjoyed responsibly by adults who can afford it.
We contribute financially to GamCare and other organizations working to reduce gambling harm. We believe that a healthy gambling industry is one that takes responsibility for the impacts of its products and works actively to minimize harm. We support research efforts to better understand problem gambling, prevention initiatives that educate the public about gambling risks, and treatment services that help those affected by gambling problems.
Remember
Gambling should be fun. If it stops being enjoyable, if it causes you stress or anxiety, if it creates conflict in your relationships, if it interferes with work or other responsibilities, or if you find yourself gambling more than you intended or can afford, it may be time to take a break or to seek help. There is no shame in recognizing that gambling has become problematic, and reaching out for support is a sign of strength and self-awareness, not weakness.
The tools and resources described on this page are here for you whenever you need them. We hope you never have to use our self-exclusion feature or seek treatment for gambling problems, but if you do, please know that support is available and that recovery is possible. Many people have overcome gambling problems and gone on to live fulfilling lives, and you can too.
Thank you for taking the time to read about responsible gambling. By staying informed and using our tools proactively, you can help ensure that gambling remains a positive part of your life. If you ever need help, we are here for you.
Cosmobet – Play Responsibly